Just a fortnight after its tenth anniversary, Campbell Live is facing the axe.

Following a meeting this afternoon, Mediaworks confirmed the primetime show is under review. Ratings for the 7pm current affairs stalwart have been in steady decline.

The review will be led by Mark Jennings, Mediaworks group head of news, who said it was part of a broader review of the MediaWorks business. It was being done to "improve commercial performance of the 7pm TV3 time-slot in a changing television market."

"Viewer expectations in 2015 are quite different from those of 2005 and we need to constantly review our programming to ensure we are meeting those expectations," Jennings said.

"Campbell Live is one of the mainstays of New Zealand media and has been at the forefront of New Zealand's news and current affairs landscape for a decade. John Campbell and Campbell Live have won every award possible, broken some of the most important stories of the decade, repeatedly been voted most popular current affairs presenter and programme, and made a real difference to Kiwis' lives."

The review was no reflection on the quality of the programme, or the work of John Campbell or the Campbell Live team, he said. No timeframe was given for the review and staff were now being consulted.

When asked if there would be job losses and if the show would continue in some form or be dropped completely, a Mediaworks spokeswoman said: "There are a range of possible outcomes, and, until the review is complete, it would simply be speculation to discuss how roles may change, or if they will change at all."

Last year, Seven Sharp pulled in an average of 430,000 viewers in the 5+ demographic per episode. In comparison, Campbell Live had 240,000, according to figures from ratings company Nielsen.

In the last week of March, when Campbell Live celebrated a decade on air, it also saw some of the worst ratings in its history. According to analysis by throng.co.nz, it averaged an audience of 154,576 per night for that week - a week in which Seven Sharp exceeded 500,000 viewers for the first time.

Jennings said in July that while ratings might be important, Campbell Live "creams" Seven Sharp when it comes to audience engagement.

In March, Campbell wrote 7pm was a "brutal timeslot - the toughest in New Zealand television".

I used to always like it, but a few weeks ago there was a cyclone somewhere and every single night he was in the country it happened talking to people, so I stopped watching, even the cricket world cup final week he dedicated a few nights to boring cricket stuff

I saw on Facebook before that it might be taken over by Jono and Ben every day, as much as I like Jono and Ben they often run out of ideas, seems like a late April Fools

But now I'm watching Campbell Live and he's doing a "Look at all the great stuff we do" type episode, so perhaps they've already been canned - Jono and Ben have announced they know nothing so it's all a bit weird

Oh FFS, it's ran by Bomber Bradbury, NZ's most militant silencer of people that don't agree with his politics, he's such a f**king hypocrite, I thought he would be too busy bullying advertisers that are advertising with Whaleoil to worry about John Campbell

Not only him, Duncan Garner and Sean Plunkett have been against zero hour contracts as well, they work for media works and they're not being shut down. Sean Plunkett was talking about it this morning and stated that the Campbell Live workers have been told there's going to be a review, not being shut down anyway, the Herald just blew it out of proportion and the other nutters have joined in.

Hopefully this will make John Campbell a little less bias, I like watching it myself but events like the Len Brown incident where Len got the friendly interview whereas the people that exposed the affair were harassed by Campbell Live, then when Dirty Politics was released they reversed how the handled the Len Brown thing and went to Cam Slaters house and harassed his family wanting an interview within an hour of the book being released - he needs to treat people based on facts not their politics

Of course with the TPPA coming up and jokey wanting to keep the sheep deaf and blind, it might be a good time to take John Campbell out of the picture, then we can all be hand fed on National party propaganda forever and ever more...baaaaa.

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Obi Wan Kanobi said. "I have never seen such a wretched hive of scum and villainy." Little did Obi Wan realize he was describing the National party.

Of course with the TPPA coming up and jokey wanting to keep the sheep deaf and blind, it might be a good time to take John Campbell out of the picture, then we can all be hand fed on National party propaganda forever and ever more...baaaaa.

C'mon, all the "love" he had for chch over the earthquakes is what turned me off him.

He used emotional journalism tactics to make him look like the "battler's" best friend and a media shoulder to cry on. It was hard to tell whether he was at times trying to compete with Fair Go with some of the stories. If he wanted to be everybody's best friend and buddy then that's another show, not a current affairs program.

TV3 is likely to replace Campbell Live with a new, long-running daily serial drama, going head-to-head with TV2's Shortland St.

Shocked staff at the TV3 current affairs show were told yesterday that it has been put "under review" by management, and human resources executives were on hand.

Mark Jennings, news chief of TV3 parent company MediaWorks, said: "Viewer expectations in 2015 are quite different from those of 2005 and we need to constantly review our programming to ensure we are meeting those expectations."

MediaWorks notes the review is being undertaken to improve commercial performance of the 7pm timeslot in a changing television market.

No specific timeframe can be given for the review, Jennings says, but a period of consultation with all staff has started.

It is expected that a daily drama will replace the news show. A production company has been selected to produce the five-day-a-week soap for TV3 targeting a 25-54 demographic.

It is understood that production company is Eyeworks, makers of The Bachelor NZ.

Looks like tv3 is full of jobs for the boys, and Johnny isn't one of the boys anymore

TV3 is likely to replace Campbell Live with a new, long-running daily serial drama, going head-to-head with TV2's Shortland St.

Shocked staff at the TV3 current affairs show were told yesterday that it has been put "under review" by management, and human resources executives were on hand.

Mark Jennings, news chief of TV3 parent company MediaWorks, said: "Viewer expectations in 2015 are quite different from those of 2005 and we need to constantly review our programming to ensure we are meeting those expectations."

MediaWorks notes the review is being undertaken to improve commercial performance of the 7pm timeslot in a changing television market.

No specific timeframe can be given for the review, Jennings says, but a period of consultation with all staff has started.

It is expected that a daily drama will replace the news show. A production company has been selected to produce the five-day-a-week soap for TV3 targeting a 25-54 demographic.

It is understood that production company is Eyeworks, makers of The Bachelor NZ.

Looks like tv3 is full of jobs for the boys, and Johnny isn't one of the boys anymore

It's the type of crap you dumb c**ts will be watching with glee feeling all superior in your fake little world. A bit of titty will be thrown into the mix and all will be well and right ...that feeling of security you had while feeding at mama's breast...all the time the chains around your neck are getting tighter...ignorance is bliss apparently, enjoy.

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Obi Wan Kanobi said. "I have never seen such a wretched hive of scum and villainy." Little did Obi Wan realize he was describing the National party.

I think he just has to stop getting so absorbed in stuff, I normally watch CL every night but when there was the cyclone and all the stories they were advertising were never shown because he spent 30 minutes every night close talking villagers, which he did for a week or 2, I started doing other s**t instead of bothering with it - this week it's been better though

Embattled broadcaster John Campbell has engaged lawyer and former journalist Linda Clark to fight his corner, as the chairman of TV3's parent company, MediaWorks, confirms the company is looking for a homegrown soap to replace Campbell's current affairs show.

Ms Clark, a former TVNZ political editor and host of Radio New Zealand's Nine to Noon programme, is now a lawyer with Kensington Swan who specialises in damage control.

She did not return calls yesterday to discuss her client, echoing a chorus of official silence from most parties involved in this saga.

I don't want another s**tty soap with d grade actors like s**tland street, I read that awful Rachel Glucina or whatever her name is, the stalky herald gossip columnist is writing it, interesting that The Herald broke the story

haha I went to read her twitter feed and I'm blocked, first time I know of that I'm blocked on Twitter, I think it must've been when I suggested she be fired for breach of privacy when she posted that All Blacks cock on Twitter

I think though television itself is in steady decline so many other viewing opportunities.

I don't think we should ever lose sight of current affairs and issues which effect all of us. Some things which are are easily swept under the carpet when no-one visible is asking the hard questions, which I think John Campbell is very good at, not afraid to open up a can of worms if need be and his input to various issues have had good results.

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Obi Wan Kanobi said. "I have never seen such a wretched hive of scum and villainy." Little did Obi Wan realize he was describing the National party.

TV3 is to chop its Sunday night news bulletin to 30 minutes, in the latest dramatic move to turn its news department into a "news, commentary and conversation" team.

MediaWorks chief executive Mark Weldon is at odds with many among his 200-strong news staff after announcing "bubbles and bagels" to celebrate the launch of Paul Henry - at the same time as Campbell Live staff were being told their programme faced the axe.

"It was just insensitive and inappropriate," a TV3 news staffer said.

The reduced Sunday news bulletin, starting on May 24, allows TV3 to move its former hour-long mid-week 3rd Degree current affairs programme to early Sunday evening. It is being renamed 3D and will be shortened to 30 minutes.

Duncan Garner and Samantha Hayes remain the presenters. Hayes will also, with David Farrier, present Newsworthy, the renamed TV3 late news programme that will include a significant "digital element".